Pamela Walker v. Suzanne Scopel and Justin Scopel

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided June 10, 2015·No. 14-14-00411-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED 14-14-00411-CV FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 6/10/2015 10:16:06 PM CHRISTOPHER PRINE CLERK

NO. 14-14-00411-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 14th COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS HOUSTON, TEXAS 6/10/2015 10:16:06 PM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE PAMELA WALKER, Clerk Appellant,

v.

SUZANNE SCOPEL AND JUSTIN SCOPEL, Appellees.

On Appeal from Cause Number 12-DCV-200283 From the 268th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas

BRIEF FOR APPELLANT ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED

REGINALD E. MCKAMIE, SR. TBN. 13686750 1210 Antoine Drive, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77055 Phone: (713) 465-2889 Fax: (713) 465-2894

Counsel for Appellant

i IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT: Pamela Walker

DEFENDANT/APPELLEE: Justin Scopel

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT: Reginald E. McKamie, Sr. Attorney at Law 1210 Antoine, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77055

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE: IRESON & WEIZEL, PLLC Lansford O. Ireson, Jr. 9720 Cypresswood, Suite 310 Houston, Texas 77070

PRESIDING JUDGE AT TRIAL: Hon. Brady G.Elliott 268th District Court Harris County, Texas 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir. Richmond, Texas 77469

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF THE PARTIES AND COUNSEL .................................................................. ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ iii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ............................................................................................ iv

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ........................................................................................... 1

ISSUES PRESENTED ..................................................................................................... 2

STATEMENT OF FACTS ............................................................................................... 3

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ................................................................................... 7

ARGUMENT ................................................................................................................ 8

A. The trial court erred in admitting photographs of extremely limited probative value that was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, and misleading the jury .............. 8

B. The jury was not at liberty to award no damages to Walker. The evidence that Walker suffered some amount of physical pain and mental anguish and physical impairment was undisputed .................................. 11

PRAYER ................................................................................................................... 14

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ........................................................................................ 15

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ................................................................................ 15

APPENDIX ............................................................................................................... 16

iii INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES Browning-Ferris, Inc. v. Reyna, 865 S.W.2d 925 (Tex. 1993)................................. 9 Burroughs Wellcome Co. v. Crye, 907 S.W.2d 497 (Tex. 1995) ........................... 10 Coates v. Whittington, 758 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1988).............................................. 11 Hicks v. Ricardo, 834 S.W.2d 587 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, no writ).. ............................................................................................................................. 11 Insurance Co. of North Am. v. Myers, 411 S.W.2d 710 (Tex.1966).. .................... 10 Lopez v. Carrillo, 940 S.W.2d 232 (Tex. App. — San Antonio 1997). ................... 9 Lowery v. Berry, 269 S.W.2d 795 (Tex. 1954)....................................................... 11

RULES Tex. R. Evid. 403 ...................................................................................................... 8

iv STATEMENT OF THE CASE

On August 19, 2012, Pamela Walker (“Walker”) filed suit against Justin

Scopel and Suzanne Scopel for damages she sustained in a car accident that

occurred on January 5, 2012. (CR 6-10).

On March 25, 2014, Walker non-suited all of her claims against Suzanne

Scopel as well as her claims for medical expenses (RR 2:5), lost wages (RR 2:5),

and punitive damages (RR 2:10) against Justin Scopel. Justin Scopel (“Scopel”)

stipulated to causing the accident. (RR 2:5).

Both parties announced ready for trial and proceeded only on the issue of

damages for past and future physical pain and mental anguish and past a future

physical impairment. On March 27, 2014, the jury awarded zero damages on each

of Walker’s claims. (CR 73).

The district court entered judgment that Walker take nothing on May 2,

2014. (CR 78). On May 27, 2014, Walker filed her notice of appeal. (CR 82).

1 ISSUES PRESENTED

1. Did the court err by admitting photographs whose probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, and misleading the jury over the Plaintiff’s objection?

2. Was the jury free to award zero damages when liability was stipulated and there was undisputed evidence of damages caused by the collision?

2 STATEMENT OF FACTS

On January 5, 2012, Justin Scopel (“Scopel”) failed to control his speed and

collided with the rear of Pamela Walker’s (“Walker”) vehicle. It is undisputed that

Scopel caused the collison. (RR 2:5, 3:5). Walker’s neck whipped forward and her

back popped on impact. (RR 3:100). She called 911 and asked that an ambulance

be dispatched because her neck and back were hurt in the collision. (RR 3:100).

The ambulance arrived and then transported her to the hospital. (RR 3:15, 100).

At the hospital, Walker underwent a CAT scan (RR 3:101) and was

diagnosed with lumbar strain and cervical strain due to the collision. (P. Ex. 1).

Walker was involved in another motor vehicle accident approximately seven

months earlier, in June 2011. (RR 3:104). In that accident, she suffered a bruise on

her hand. (RR 3:105). She experienced some short-term back and neck pain from

that accident and sought a referral for physical therapy. (D. Ex. 2). However, the

pain resolved, she had no lingering neck or back problems (RR 3:105), and she

never sought treatment. (RR 3:123).

In contrast, after the collision with Scopel that is the subject of this case,

Walker experienced “intense pain” that she had not experienced prior. (RR 3:113).

She was no longer able to work in her garden (RR 3:91) as she had before the

accident. (RR 3:87). She was unable to do her daughter’s hair. (RR 3:92). She

was no longer able to sit through her son’s basketball games, and thus stopped

3 attending. (RR 3:92). She stopped cooking, no longer slept through the night, and

was no longer able to take regular trips with her husband, all of which she had

done prior to the collision. (RR 3:86, 91, 93).

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Related

Insurance Company of North America v. Myers
411 S.W.2d 710 (Texas Supreme Court, 1966)
Hicks v. Ricardo
834 S.W.2d 587 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1992)
Lowery v. Berry
269 S.W.2d 795 (Texas Supreme Court, 1954)
Coates v. Whittington
758 S.W.2d 749 (Texas Supreme Court, 1988)
Burroughs Wellcome Co. v. Crye
907 S.W.2d 497 (Texas Supreme Court, 1995)
Lopez v. Carrillo
940 S.W.2d 232 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1997)
Browning-Ferris, Inc. v. Reyna
865 S.W.2d 925 (Texas Supreme Court, 1994)